Most of you know my story. My sawh is saying all the right things and surprisingly has been treating me quite well. He does things out of the blue like buy me a tshirt when I am not there and continues to ask me to go to counseling, retreautville, couples getaway weekends, etc.

My family was yelling at me today about considering remarrying him after we divorce. They say get all the money from the divorce and if after that, we can always remarry.

I dont care about the money. Actually, if I lived with him, I would have more of my own money.They say he has not and can not change. They said he his manipulating me because the trial is next week and he owes me back child support and an increase.

I want to stay married and move back in to try. They are calling me stupid and say that he will only start beating me.

Why are they saying he will beat you? Has he beat you in the past? If that's the case then yes, I agree with them wholeheartedly. You should never stay with a man who puts his hands on you.

If domestic violence is not part of the equation, then it's really up to you. Only you can decide how many more chances you want to give him. I do urge you to hear them out though. They care about you and may notice things about him that you don't.

huh? Has he abusive in the past? If so then I think your family is giving you valid advice. If not, then where the heck is that coming from?

What changes have you seen in him? Is he going to IC? He is saying the right things, but what is he doing? And I don't mean being nice to you, I mean what meaningful things is he doing to heal himself?

Do not cancel court for next week. If after the trial he still seems to be doing the right things and truly seems to be healing himself, then consider R with him. And start small if you do decide to R with him -- do not move back in immediately but attend several sessions of MC with him first.

Good luck

And it's hard to dance with a devil on your back
So shake him off
-- Shake It Out, Florence And The Machine

Posts: 17695 | Registered: Apr 2006 | From: A better place :)

careerlady♀ 16958Member # 16958

Posted: 2:01 PM, February 17th (Monday), 2014

Well....
I'm not intimately familiar with your story but I read your profile and your WH sounded like a terrible husband and father who was a SA and emotionally abusive escalating towards physical abuse. I'm not sure what happened in between your last profile update and you wanting to move back in together but it must have been a lot. What have you seen that makes you feel he's really changed this time as opposed to hoovering? I can see why your family is concerned...

I looked at my post and maybe I was too harsh. The reason I feel your WH was on the verge of full on physical abuse was because you said he was pushing you up the point where you called the police.

I'm honestly a big fan of R. Just not false R. Many times my family has said I can always remarry too because I doubt myself and want my family back. But at the end of the day the Snake has been unable to really express remorse or do anything to show he's changed.

If you truly think he may have changed maybe let him pay for a retreat and see how it goes. I would not advising just moving back in together as this stage as the children will be hurt and confused if it doesn't work out

Right, thats because he doesnt want a divorce. I push because this is what my family is asking me to do. It's not really what I want. They say that it's a smart thing to do right now is to continue on with the divorce.

My family says that I will lose all of my leverage if I do anything with the divorce right now. They say that I can't even try to reconcile with him until after the entire settlement agreement is done. This includes just being divorced. Then after that will be the settlement.

Ask for a continuance. I feel like your decision is clouded by the time constraint of "next week." Give yourself some space to think, and him more time to show his true colors. Is a continuance a viable option? They can be granted for illness, conflicts, or at the request of either party. If you both agree to a continuance, then I think it would be the easiest thing to do.

Considering your family's advice... They are trying to protect you. They have a view of the marriage that we don't. If they are "attacking" (yelling) a defensive reaction is normal. But I would encourage you to hear their concerns, especially if they are very very vocal.

You can't wish a WS into recovery. True remorse and a WS who is doing the work will not push for "his way." He will understand your need to be cautious and the need to protect you and your financial situation.

I dragged on my divorce as long as I could. I didn't file for a whole year while XH was cheating on me, somewhat trying to reconcile, and back and forth and so on. My lawyer waited as long as possible before continuing the divorce after I filed because he knew I didn't want to divorce, but he understood as long as XH isn't committing to the marriage, a divorce is best for me.

I got back together with XH after the divorce. We were living our own lives for about 6 months before we got back together. We talked about re-marriage and I thought we were on the right path to last forever. After about a year, I learned that XH had been talking to OW more frequently and recently slept with her (she told me). That was the final straw for me (This was all back in 2010 and earlier).

While your H may be truly remorseful and working to rebuild your marriage, I would still continue your plans to divorce. From what I've heard, reconciling is a very long process. If he really does want to work things out with you, I think he would continue to work things out with you, even though you're divorcing. I don't know. Maybe someone who has reconciled after divorce would be good to talk to?

Is he doing everything that you need him to do for a successful relationship? Do you trust him? Believe him? Is there a chance he is being nice because the divorce will be final soon?

I get how your family is protecting you. Mine is/was the same way. They would have been fuming to find out that I considered remarrying XH. But it's your life to live. Not theirs. They should support you even if they don't agree with your choices.

Failure is success if we learn from it.

Posts: 4410 | Registered: Aug 2007 | From: michigan

torn2bits♀ 28376Member # 28376

Posted: 7:20 PM, February 17th (Monday), 2014

Continuance is not an option. We stopped the divorce for 6 months to try R for the first tine it was to soon after dday. I love him, I dont trust him like before, but he is not a serial cheater and know he will try his best to become close to me again.

I think he is so low on himself and my family just doesn't see that he did everything for me and that I don't care about the stupid money. He, if anything is going to ask for half of my retirement holdings. I know that he loves me.

Torn honey, I remember a lot of your posts, and how horrible he was to you. Just the fact that you are here, telling us your family says keep going, and you are not sure tells me as much as you really would like to see things work out, you know it might not be the best thing to stop it.

Do you really think he's not going to revert to former behaviour if you stop the D? This isn't just all a big show to make you stop it?

If he is really, really sincere about changing and wanting to be with you, he will continue on the same path regardless if the D is done or not. Your family wants you to continue because they don't trust him. I think you are questioning it because you at least partially agree with them...you are not sure you can trust him to continue being "good".

Think about it, really, really hard. Continuing the D will protect you financially and otherwise. From some of your most resent posts, I really don't know if he really has changed. I believe it's a show. Maybe I'm wrong...but protect yourself. Finish the D. If he continues to show you afterwards that he has truly changed, you can date him again, but at this point? After all this time? I really think you need to finish it, and if he reverts, you can walk away.

I know it's hard for you. Hugs.

BS(me) 46, Two wonderful teens.
He is no longer my best friend. Repeat until it sticks.

I too believe in change and hope. I still have hope that The Arse will change. However his actions say that he hasn't and my own well being means I need an end to this limbo. A remorseful spouse will be very clearly remorseful in words and actions, they will fight for the M. Mine isn't. And I have finally come to accept that I cannot save this M on my own. It has taken along time to reach this point. Remember, there truly can be R after divorce if your spouse becomes truly remorseful. Don't lose hope, but don't let him manipulate you either.

Listen to your family honey. He will keep working to get you back, D or no D, if he is for real.

But know you aren't stupid too. Just human, and struggling, and in love. That makes us all pretty blind and weakens our defenses.

I know you want it to work. I just think you have to love yourself enough to put yourself first here.

Sit. Feast on your life.

Posts: 4315 | Registered: Jan 2014 | From: NYC

torn2bits♀ 28376Member # 28376

Posted: 1:20 PM, February 19th (Wednesday), 2014

Gosh I remember posting to others about how we all gave lives without them, about how we need to put ourselves first.

The other thing is my children, they would have so much mire if we were together. I mean my place is so small, I fave the bedrooms ti my kids and I am sleeping on the couch while wh is in our 5 bedroom house. Credit is so bad, cant buy a house. I have coin laundry, it's terrible after over 24 yrs in a house.

Listen to your family,, they love you, I think your H has used every trick in the book to keep you..and is now being nice.. Tell him you have decided you are going to divorce him any way and I bet in a day or two he'll be emotionally abusive again, because he wants his way. period.

Here is why: My friend didn't know what to do with regards to getting a D. Her H (who wanted to R and stay together), told her to ,,, yes, divorce him if it would help her to clear her head.... He was in therapy and was showing great progress at being a good person..but he was prepared to let her do WHAT SHE FELT WAS BEST FOR HER,,,rather than him decide what was best for her. Do you see the difference?

You can always get back together, but I think he wants to control you. Divorce him, find a counselor you like and I bet in 6 months he is back to the same old tricks.